JULY 2015

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(Posted Tue. Jul 14th, 2015)

The National Corn Growers Association today praised the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s approval of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and called for action by the full House. This important legislation will create a consumer-friendly, science-based labeling standard for foods made with genetically modified organisms, as well as for GMO-free foods.

“The committee approval of this legislation sends a strong message about the growing bipartisan support for this legislation,” said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team chair John Linder, a farmer from Ohio. “We believe today’s vote builds strong forward momentum and applaud the efforts of the House Agriculture Committee to tackle this issue head on. Now, we urge our congressional leaders to bring this bill up for a vote on the floor before the August recess.”

Introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., and G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., 69 Democrats and Republicans have cosponsored the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. This legislation sets a uniform, common-sense national standard for labeling foods with GMOs and for GMO-free foods.

“The House and Senate must pass federal legislation this year; the continued threat of an unworkable patchwork of state GMO labeling mandates will drive up costs for farmers and consumers alike,” Linder said. “Next July, Vermont’s state labeling law is set to take effect. The looming impacts of this situation increase the urgency of the need for Congress to act on a national labeling law.”